North Korea: Plan to bomb Guam will be ready soon
The war of words between America and North Korea continues unabated. North Korea said its plan to strike the US Pacific territory of Guam with missiles will be ready by mid-August. It also denounced Donald Trump's "fire and fury" warnings, adding that the president was "bereft of reason." Washington has warned that Pyongyang's actions could translate to the "end of its regime."
North Korea considering missile strikes on US territory of Guam
There appears to be no sign of de-escalation of tensions between the US and North Korea. On August 10, North Korea's military said it is considering launching missile strikes against the US Pacific territory of Guam, an important regional base that houses American strategic bombers. The statement came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened the regime with "fire and fury."
Why is Guam strategically important to US?
Guam is a "non-incorporated" US territory having a population of around 163,000. The island has an area of around 541sq km and is situated between the Philippines and Hawaii. It is home to a strategically significant US military base that holds 6,000 troops. The base provides the US military access to flashpoint areas like the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan Straits.
What North Korea said
North Korean state media reported that by mid-August, plans to launch the indigenously developed Hwasong-12 missiles against Guam would be complete and submitted to Kim Jong-un for approval. If launched, the missiles would cross Japan and "fly 3,356.7km for 1,065 seconds and hit the waters 30-40km away from Guam," the report said. The Hwasong missiles have medium to long-range capability.
North Korea calls Trump "a guy bereft of reason"
North Korean state media dismissed Trump's "fire and fury" comments as "a load of nonsense." It added: "Sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason and only absolute force can work on him."
Tillerson says no immediate North Korean threat to Americans
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said North Korea "must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons." Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reassured American citizens that North Korea doesn't pose an imminent threat. The South Korean military said it hasn't detected any unusual activity in the North to suggest any provocations. China has urged all parties to remain calm.
